Water management plan passes Sioux Falls City Council

Apr. 17, 2013

Kermit Staggers

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A simpler, three-stage management program for lawn watering within city limits was passed 6-1 by the Sioux Falls City Council Tuesday, with Councilor Kermit Staggers opposing.

Under the new plan, officials would have the power to make changes to the lawn-watering schedule throughout a season without having to go to the City Council for approval each time.

Sioux Falls had used a four-step management plan that dictates rules such as when vehicles in driveways may be washed and when people can use water to wash outdoor surfaces. The proposed changes would provide a plan only for when lawn watering may occur, depending on how much water is flowing through the Big Sioux River.

The three-stage plan is based on water availability through the city’s water sources, which include the Lewis & Clark Regional Water system, the Big Sioux Aquifer, the Big Sioux River and the Middle Skunk Creek Aquifer.

Outdoor Spellerberg pool goes to a vote

The public will get a chance to vote on whether a new outdoor swimming pool should be built at Spellerberg Park.

City Clerk Lorie Hogstad told the City Council on Tuesday that petitioners for the Spellerberg pool issue collected enough valid signatures to put it to a vote.

Petitioners gathered more than 7,000 signatures, but some were not considered valid because of various issues. Hogstad said more than 5,600 signatures remained after the validation process — 500 more than were needed to put the issue to a vote.

The petition circulated by the group Save Spellerberg proposes that a new outdoor swimming pool complex be constructed for $7.5 million no later than Dec. 31, 2015, as a replacement for the current pool.

The City Council now will need to decide whether to hold a special election, or put the item on the April 8, 2014, election.

Hogstad said two other petitions recently have been registered with the city clerk’s office, one involving putting the newly passed but not officially enacted Shape Places ordinance, which is an overhaul of the city’s zoning laws, and another registered by the East River Rabbit Breeder’s Club, which takes issue with two sections of the newly passed ordinance that deals with the keeping of animals in city limits.

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A number of rabbit owners have voiced disapproval with the ordinances’ limit of six rabbits, requiring a license of those who wish to have more than six rabbits, along with approval of all neighbors within 100 feet of the applicant’s land.

Petitioners to put Shape Places to a vote said in a recent news release that the Shape Places Ordinance “reduces citizen input in the zoning and development process across Sioux Falls.” Shape Places will not go into effect until later this month.

The urban ag petitioners have two more weeks to gather the 5,100 valid signatures needed to put the issue to a vote, Hogstad said. The Shape Places petitioners have until 5 p.m. Friday to turn in the same number of signatures.

Manager selected for Falls Park café

After going through several vendors in the past eight years, the City Council selected a manager to run the Overlook Café at Falls Park for at least the next five years.

City officials previously recommended Rhonda Milstead, who operated the café under a short-term concession contract during the annual Winter Wonderland celebration, to manage the café.

Councilors unanimously approved the contract Tuesday.

Under the proposed five-year agreement, the city receives 10 percent of gross receipts, and the café is “professionally run, with family-oriented food service,” which would include private rentals and catering events. In addition, the city would pay the utilities at the café.

In the past, beer and wine availability was restricted to private groups and events at the café, said Dave Fischer, assistant director of Parks and Recreation.

The consultant and vendor selection team both recommended that availability be expanded, but not be the focus at the café. Milstead would need to obtain an alcohol license before being able to serve it at the café.

The City Council could put further restrictions on the license, if it was approved.